Department for Transport

Motor Vehicles: Excise Duties

Justin Madders: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how much his Department has received in credit card fees from people renewing vehicle tax online in the years (a) 2013-14, (b) 2014-15 and (c) 2015-16.

Andrew Jones: The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) receipts from credit card fees from people renewing vehicle tax online or by phone for the previous three financial years are set out below. Financial  YearTotal number of Vehicle Excise Duty renewals* Credit card fee receipts  £’0002013-1444,570,0008,9412014-1547,300,0008,7302015-1646,560,0008,000*covering renewals by all financial transaction types, not just credit cards.The DVLA introduced the option to pay for Vehicle Excise Duty (VED) by credit card during 2004-05. To meet the additional costs of processing credit card payments, the DVLA applies a charge of £2.50, which is prescribed in legislation. It should be noted that Direct Debit is now offered as an additional way for people to pay their VED.

Bus Service Operators Grant

Daniel Zeichner: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to paragraph 4.30 of his Department's Bus reform workshops: background document, published in September 2015, if he plans to devolve the bus service operators grant to those local authorities granted franchising powers in the Bus Services Bill.

Andrew Jones: Where an authority implements franchising, Government plans to devolve the Bus Service Operators Grant that would have been paid to commercial bus operators in the area to the local authority.

Bus Services Bill (HL)

Daniel Zeichner: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what representations he has received from (a) private bus operators, (b) municipal bus operators and (c) local authorities on Clause 21 of the Bus Services Bill.

Andrew Jones: I am not aware of any representations having been made to the Department by private bus operators, municipal bus operators or local transport authorities with respect to clause 21 of the Bus Services Bill.

Motor Vehicles: Excise Duties

Karen Lumley: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how much revenue has been retained as a result of refunds for cancelled vehicle tax only being given for any full months of remaining tax since October 2014.

Andrew Jones: The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) has always issued refunds of Vehicle Excise Duty (VED) for any full, unexpired months remaining. This is a legal requirement and did not change when the paper tax disc was abolished in October 2014. In the financial year 2014/15, the DVLA collected £6 billion in VED and paid £216 million in refunds. The amount of VED refunded in the previous financial year was £197 million.

Trains: Construction

Karen Lumley: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that British manufacturers have fair access to the tendering process to promote the use of UK parts in foreign-made railway trains on the UK rail network.

Claire Perry: We are encouraging SMEs, new entrants and innovators to work with the industry to identify and take advantage of initiatives benefitting the supply chain and improving access to the market to ensure that the UK remains competitive and develops the capacity for orders at home and abroad. It should be noted that over 2,000 railway vehicles are currently on order (being manufactured or to be manufactured) in the UK.

Railways: East of England

Lilian Greenwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to section 7 of the East Anglia franchise Invitation to Tender, published on 17 September 2015, what weighting his Department has ascribed to (a) social characteristics and (b) other factors used to determine the most economically advantageous tender for (i) that franchise and (ii) proposals for new rolling stock orders by bidders for that franchise.

Claire Perry: As you have indicated the winning bid will be awarded to the most economically advantageous tender as set out in section 7 of the Invitation to Tender (ITT). This is determined through a combination of ‘price’ and weighted quality points awarded as part of the Department’s evaluation of initiatives proposed by a bidder to meet or exceed the Department’s requirements set out in each delivery plan at section 5 of the East Anglia ITT. It is in the delivery plans themselves that references to social characteristics are included. In the main they appear in the Stations, Customer Experience and Leadership delivery plans. In respect of Rolling Stock, as a minimum, the Department has required that bidders propose either new rolling stock or non-new build rolling stock. If non-new build rolling stock, passengers will perceive the overall design, internal ambience, condition and facilities, and the external condition, as being modern, comfortable and comparable to that of new or nearly new rolling stock. This link takes you to the full ITT should you require it: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/461470/east-anglia-invitation-to-tender.pdf

Cycling: Poole

Michael Tomlinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department is taking to increase cycling provision in Poole.

Mr Robert Goodwill: Poole Borough Council received funding for the LSTF 2011-15 programme as a partner authority which was led by Dorset County Council for the ‘School Travel Health Check’ project; they also received funding for the ‘Be SMArT’ project led by Bournemouth Borough Council. Both projects aimed to facilitate sustainable travel and included improvements for cycling. The Department is also preparing to launch the Access Fund for revenue only funding, which will be open to all local authorities in England (excluding London) regardless of previous bidding success. This will include an objective to actively promote increased levels of physical activity through walking and cycling. The Access Fund is being aligned with the third Local Growth Deal which presents opportunities for all authorities to seek capital funding for their sustainable transport schemes. All local authorities have been notified to engage with their Local Enterprise Partnerships and the Department on both these opportunities.

Motorcycles: Driving Tests

Royston Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department has taken to increase the availability of practical test appointments for motorcycle drivers.

Andrew Jones: The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) forecasts the demand for all types of driving tests including motorcycle tests; this is done annually and reviewed quarterly. The information is used to ensure the Agency has the required number of motorcycle examiners available in order to meet its commitment of maintaining an annual six week waiting time. Demand for tests has increased over the last three years and DVSA has responded by conducting 6,000 more test per year, as shown below. YearM1M22013/1446,26343,4752014/1552,00549,1942015/16 YTD46,15044,068  Demand for motorcycle tests is seasonal; during the Summer months (April to September) DVSA increases test availability by opening summer work patterns. Last year the Agency achieved motorcycle test waiting times of 4.7 weeks for module one and 3.9 weeks for module two. Waiting times are currently 7 weeks for module one and 5.8 weeks for module two. As part of DVSA’s current recruitment campaign it is seeking to recruit 16 fast track motorcycle examiners. There are also currently four fast track biker recruits undergoing new entrant training. Training has also been scheduled to provide a further 14 bike examiners before September (this includes two currently attending and 12 more booked on to the training course).

Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency: Training

Royston Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment his Department has made of the effectiveness of the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency training programme in increasing availability of motorcycle assessors.

Andrew Jones: The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) evaluates the effectiveness of its examiner training programme by monitoring the waiting times for both modules of the motorcycle practical test. This enables the agency to balance the demand for tests with the number of motorcycle examiners, which directly affects the availability of motorcycle test appointments. This is measured against the agency’s commitment to maintain or improve upon a six-week annual average waiting time for practical motorcycle tests. In addition, the progress against this commitment, the demand for tests and the examiner training programme are discussed in a wider forum at a monthly Service Management Group for Vocational and Motorcycle testing. Specific issues are escalated in this forum as necessary. Waiting times for last year and the first two months of this year are shown in the table below, it should be noted that motorcycle testing is affected by seasonal variation and waiting times inevitably rise in the summer months when demand is higher. Commitment: 6 weeksYear 2015/16Year to Date April - May 2016MC Mod 14.76.8MC Mod 23.95.5

Cycling: Accidents

Daniel Zeichner: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will introduce measurable targets on reducing the number of cyclists killed or seriously injured.

Mr Robert Goodwill: The draft Cycling and Walking Investment Strategy was published in March and set out the Department’s targets for cycling. This included an objective to reduce the rate of cyclists killed or seriously injured on England’s roads, measured as the number of fatalities and serious injuries per billion miles cycled, each year. We are in the process of analysing feedback received during the consultation and expect to publish the final Strategy this summer.

London-Brighton Railway Line: Tickets

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 20 June 2016 to Question 40385, whether he has had discussions with Govia Thameslink Railway on (a) for what reasons the selected routes offering flexible products do not include services on the Brighton Main Line (BML) and (b) what the timeline is for provision of part-time season tickets for passengers using the BML; and if he will make a statement.

Claire Perry: We have regular discussions with Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR) on a range of issues. GTR is currently developing proposals in respect of flexible ticketing throughout their franchise area (including the Brighton Mainline).

Govia Thameslink Railway: Standards

Lilian Greenwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, in which reporting periods the performance of the Thameslink, Southern and Great Northern franchise has (a) met and (b) exceeded its breach performance level for the (i) train operating company minute delay, (ii) cancellation and (iii) short-formation benchmark.

Claire Perry: Since Rail Industry period 7 in financial year 2015/16 (ending mid October 2015), GTR have exceeded the breach level for the Cancellations benchmark. The Secretary of State issued GTR with a Remedial Plan Notice last year requiring them to set out in a Remedial Plan the measures they will take in order to improve their performance and included benchmarks against which GTR are measured for the duration of the Remedial Plan. GTR has not breached the remedial plan cancellations benchmark and are under the breach benchmark for train operating company minute delays and peak short formations.

Govia Thameslink Railway: Standards

Lilian Greenwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the average lateness in minutes was in reporting period two of (a) 2015-16 and (b) 2016-17 of services on the (i) Thameslink, Southern and Great Northern franchise, (ii) the Gatwick Express, (iii) Southern Mainline and Coast, (iv) Southern Metro and (v) Thameslink.

Claire Perry: Govia Thameslink Railway do not report average lateness to the Department.However, on 28 June, the Office of Rail and Road published statistics on ‘Network Rail Outputs and Indicators’ for 2015/16 Quarter 4 which include data on average lateness by region and train operator. The information can be found on their website: http://orr.gov.uk/statistics/published-stats/statistical-releases

Govia Thameslink Railway: Finance

Lilian Greenwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether his Department has been informed on any occasion by the Thameslink, Southern and Great Northern franchise that an event of default has occurred or that such an event was likely to occur.

Claire Perry: We have not been informed by the operator on any occasion that an event of default has occurred or that such an event was likely to occur.

Govia Thameslink Railway

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will place in the Library a copy of the Rail Minister's response to the letter of 20 June 2016 from the Chief Executive of the Campaign for Better Transport on the Thameslink, Southern and Great Northern franchise.

Claire Perry: No response has yet been issued.

London Airports: Iron and Steel

Anna Turley: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he is taking to ensure that airport expansion at (a) Heathrow and (b) Gatwick Airport will benefit the UK steel industry.

Mr Robert Goodwill: The Government’s steel procurement guidance sets out how government buyers should source steel in a more strategic and transparent way and will help to ensure that UK manufacturers are in the best possible place to react to tenders for major procurements when they arise. We would encourage companies to adopt the guidance where possible in their own purchasing activities. Airports are privately owned companies and all of the promoters have proposed privately-funded schemes. It would be for the airport to procure the materials they need as these are privately financed and developed projects.

London Airports

Anna Turley: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, to what extent he plans for the decision on airport expansion in the South East to take account of potential economic benefits outside of London and the South East.

Mr Robert Goodwill: Our global connections are crucial for British business and benefit the whole country. The economic benefits to the UK as a whole, not just London and the South East, will be taken into consideration when making a decision on a preferred scheme for airport expansion, alongside a range of other relevant evidence.

Home Office

DNA: Databases

Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the age is of the (a) youngest and (b) oldest person with a profile on the National DNA Database.

Mike Penning: a) The recorded age of the youngest person on the National DNA Database (NDNAD) as at 31 March 2016 was 10.b) The recorded age of the eldest person on the NDNAD as at 31 March 2016 was 115.The age recorded for the eldest person is based on what their age would be as at 31 March 2016 from their date of birth recorded at the time of sampling.It is not their age when they were added to the NDNAD. There is no weeding from the NDNAD due to age or death.

Police: Stun Guns

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many time tasers were deployed in psychiatric wards in each of the last five years.

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what data or other information on the deployment of tasers in mental health settings was provided by Chief Constable David Shaw's review of taser use.

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the outcomes were of Chief Constable David Shaw's review of the publication of taser data and other use of force by police officers; and if she will place in the Library a copy of the findings and recommendations of that review.

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the timetable is for (a) collection and (b) publication of data on the ethnicity and age of targets, location and outcome of taser use by the police.

Mike Penning: Data is not recorded centrally on the number of times the police have deployed Taser devices on psychiatric wards. A Taser record is completed by police officers each time a Taser is used. However, this record does not currently show the detailed geographical or type of location.Police Use of Taser statistics are published by the Home Office and most recently on 28 April 2016. These provide a snapshot of Taser use.We have been very clear that the public need greater transparency and that is why the Home Secretary asked Chief Constable David Shaw to lead an in-depth review of the publication of Taser data and other use of force by police officers.The review recommended that the police record and publish the ethnicity, age, location and outcome of all serious use of force by police officers, including physical restraint and Taser. Pathfinder forces started to collect this data from April this year, and it is anticipated that the collection will form part of the 2017-18 Home Office Annual Data Return.A copy of Chief Constable David Shaw’s review will be placed in the House library. The review contained no data on the number of times the police have used Taser in mental health settings.

Offences against Children

Nigel Adams: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department takes to ensure that (a) her Department and (b) agencies and other bodies of her Department follow statutory policy, guidance and legislation relating to the safeguarding of young people from child sexual exploitation.

Karen Bradley: Child sexual exploitation (CSE) is a horrendous crime and safeguarding young people from it must be a shared effort. The Home Office leads on the cross-Government response to this crime. This is a top priority for the Department.The Home Secretary’s guidance to officials carrying out immigration, asylum and nationality functions is that they must always make a referral to a statutory agency responsible for child protection or child welfare such as the police, the Health Service, or the Children’s Department of a Local Authority, in circumstances that dictate such action is required, such as when there is a potential indicator of harm or when a child is a potential victim of trafficking.Section 55 of the Borders, Citizenship and Immigration Act 2009 places a duty on UK Visas and Immigration and Border Force to take account of the need to safeguard and promote the welfare of children in discharging its functions.The Home Office expects all of its Arm’s Length Bodies and agencies to follow statutory, and non-statutory, requirements for safeguarding young people.

Asylum: Females

Angela Crawley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many women who claimed asylum on the grounds of sexual violence in their home country are in immigration detention.

James Brokenshire: Information on the reasons for a claim for asylum is not readily accessible from central statistical records and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost through a manual search of individual case files.

Asylum: Females

Angela Crawley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many women who claimed asylum on the grounds of sexual violence in their home country were deported in each of the last three years.

James Brokenshire: Information concerning the basis of a claim for asylum is not readily accessible from central statistical records and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost through a manual search of individual case files.

British Nationality: Fees and Charges

Marion Fellows: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, for what reasons applicants are charged to apply for (a) naturalisation to become a British citizen and (b) registration to become a British citizen; and how those charges are calculated.

James Brokenshire: Fees for applications for naturalisation and registration for British citizenship are charged to cover the cost of processing such applications and contribute to the wider costs of operating the border, immigration and citizenship system. Fee levels are set in accordance with sections 68 to 70 of the Immigration Act 2014, and take account of a range of factors including the administration costs associated with an application and the various benefits and entitlements that applicants may receive from British citizenship.

Home Office: Training

Fiona Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will take steps to ensure that staff in her Department receive religious literacy training.

Karen Bradley: The Home Office has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Atlantic Ocean Islands

Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what his Department's five-year strategy and vision statement objectives are for (a) South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands and (b) Ascension Island.

James Duddridge: A new five year Strategy for South Georgia & the South Sandwich Islands, Strategy 2016 - 2020, was published in November 2015. The Strategy brings together HMG and the Government of South Georgia & the South Sandwich Islands’ objectives. The Strategy aspires to world-class environmental management underpinned by the highest standards of governance, and sets out five strategic objectives. A copy of the Strategy can be found at:http://tinyurl.com/zfjbpn4The FCO is currently working with the Ascension Island Government to identify the island’s infrastructure needs. This is the first step in identifying long-term requirements for Ascension.

Stephen O'Malley

Mrs Louise Ellman: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, with reference to the Answer of 25 February 2016 to Question 27742, what information he has on the progress being made by the Danish authorities on the re-opened inquest into the death of Stephen O'Malley; and if he will make a statement.

Mr David Lidington: The investigation remains ongoing. Consular officials are in contact with the Danish authorities and will provide the family and the Hon. Member with any updates they receive.

Ethiopia: Human Rights

Mr David Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the implications for his policies of the findings of the Human Rights Watch report on Ethiopia, Such a brutal crackdown, published in June 2016, on alleged human rights violations by government security forces in that country.

James Duddridge: We are aware of the Human Rights Watch report on Ethiopia and are considering its findings. I met with Ethiopian Foreign Minister Tedros at the African Union Summit in Addis Ababa on 27 January. I raised the UK’s concerns with regards to the human rights situation. We will continue to raise our concerns with the government of Ethiopia both through our bilateral engagement, most notably our ongoing Human Rights Dialogue, as well as jointly with our international partners.We remain deeply concerned about the handling of demonstrations in Oromia, including the reported deaths of a number of protestors, and about those detained under the Anti-Terrorism Proclamation. We have repeatedly made representations to the Ethiopian Government over the situation in that region.The Ethiopian Human Rights Commission has been appointed to look into the handling of the protests in Oromia and presented their findings to the Ethiopian parliament on 10 June 2016. We have not seen the report, but are pressing for its publication and will take a view on what further actions, if any, might be appropriate.

Tanzania: British Nationals Abroad

Christian Matheson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how many UK citizens have been (a) refused entry to and (b) deported from Tanzania in each of the last five years for which figures are available.

James Duddridge: The British Government does not hold information on UK citizens who have been refused entry to Tanzania.There was only one case of a UK citizen being deported from Tanzania during this period, in 2014.

Eritrea: Ethiopia

Craig Whittaker: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions he has had with the Ethiopian and Eritrean governments on avoiding further fighting and conflict along the border between those countries.

James Duddridge: We are concerned over recent reports of fighting between Ethiopian and Eritrean forces along the border near Tsorena. We have called on both countries to exercise restraint and to adhere to the terms of the Algiers Agreement. We have also made it clear to Ethiopia and Eritrea that they should engage in meaningful political discourse to seek a resolution to the ongoing border issues.

Eritrea: Politics and Government

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential contribution of the organisation Eritrean Unity for Democratic Change to political change in that country.

James Duddridge: The Eritrean Unity for Democratic Change is one of a number of organisations representing the Eritrean diaspora community. FCO officials have met with members of the Eritrean Unity for Democratic Change and other diaspora groups to listen to their views. The UK continues to engage with the government of Eritrea to push for tangible reforms, including enactment of the constitution and setting term limits on national service that would have a direct impact on the lives of the people of Eritrea.

Yemen: Military Intervention

Mrs Helen Grant: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, with reference to the UN Secretary General's report on Children and Armed Conflict, published on 2 June 2016, what steps he is taking to engage with (a) the Saudi-led coalition and (b) his counterparts in the UN Security Council on the listing in that report of the Saudi-led coalition.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: We are aware of the UN Secretary General’s annual report on Children in Armed Conflict which was published on 2 June. We note the announcement by the UN Secretary General on 6 June that removed the listing of the Saudi Arabian-led Coalition from the report’s annex, pending the conclusion of a joint review by the UN and Saudi Arabia on the cases and numbers cited in the text. We welcome co-operation between the UN and Saudi Arabia to look in to this matter.

Yemen: Military Intervention

Mrs Helen Grant: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he has made of the implications for the UN Security Council's policies on children and armed conflict of the delisting of the Saudi-led coalition in the UN Secretary General's report on Children and Armed Conflict, published on 2 June 2016.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: We are aware of the UN Secretary General’s annual report on Children in Armed Conflict which was published on 2 June and included a section outlining the impact of the conflict in Yemen on children. We consider all these reports very carefully. We note the announcement by the UN Secretary General on 6 June that removed the listing of the Saudi Arabian-led Coalition from the report’s annex, pending the conclusion of a joint review by the UN and Saudi Arabia on the cases and numbers cited in the text. We welcome co-operation between the UN and Saudi Arabia to look in to this matter. The UK Government continues to support the work of the United Nations on Children and Armed Conflict.

Gambia: Ethnic Groups

Patrick Grady: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent discussions his Department has had with the UN Office on Genocide Prevention and the Responsibility to Protect on alleged violence against ethnic groups in Gambia.

James Duddridge: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has not held recent discussions with the UN Office on Genocide Prevention and the Responsibility to Protect on alleged violence against ethnic groups in The Gambia. However, we fully endorse the statement of the UN Special Advisor on the Prevention of Genocide, released on 10 June, in which he condemned inflammatory rhetoric by President Jammeh, and called for the rights of all populations of The Gambia to be respected. We regularly press the government of The Gambia at senior levels to protect the human rights of all its people.Our Ambassador to The Gambia recently has discussed the situation in the country with the UN Secretary General’s Special Representative for West Africa and with UN representatives in Banjul. We and our partners will continue to monitor the situation closely, particularly the protection afforded to different ethnic groups.

Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

Packaging: Electronic Equipment

Carolyn Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, with which organisations Ministers of his Department have met to discuss the review of enforcement of the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008 in respect of copycat packaging of branded electrical goods in the last three months.

Nick Boles: The Government concluded its review of the enforcement provisions of the Consumer Protection against Unfair Trading Regulations (2008) in respect of copycat packaging in October 2015, and the Minister of State for Skills discussed the review with the British Brands Group the following month. The Intellectual Property Office have subsequently been working with industry stakeholders to deliver awareness training to trading standards about copycat packaging and the Government have committed to continue to provide training in the recently published IP Enforcement Strategy 2020.

Consumer Protection Measures in the Ticket Resale Market Review

Mrs Sharon Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, when he plans to respond to the Independent review of consumer protection measures concerning online secondary ticketing facilities, published on 26 May 2016; and if he will present his response in a format similar to that of a government response to a select committee report.

Nick Boles: The Government will publish its response to Professor Waterson’s independent review in due course.

Pay

Cat Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, if he will conduct a review into the effect of the use of payment intermediaries on pay transparency before the end of 2016.

Nick Boles: This is a complicated issue and we are considering the most appropriate way to ensure more transparency.

Apprentices

Michelle Donelan: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, whether he plans to require non-levy paying employers wishing to recruit an apprentice from April 2017 to make a compulsory cash contribution to the cost of training.

Nick Boles: The Government will help employers who are not paying the levy to meet the costs of apprenticeships training by providing generous financial support. We will ask these employers to make a small contribution. Further detail on funding rates will be published shortly.

Thameslink Railway Line

Lilian Greenwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, with reference to the Answer of 13 July 2011 to Question 65970, on the Thameslink Railway Line, whether the Economic Response Task Force referred to in that Answer produced a report.

Anna Soubry: The Derby Economic Task Force was wound up in July 2012. While a report was not produced, the Derby Economic Task Force completed a programme of work to support Derby during that period of uncertainty.

Overseas Investment: Treaties

Kevin Brennan: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of mechanisms for parliamentary oversight of the UK's bilateral investment treaties.

Anna Soubry: Treaties, including bilateral investment treaties, that are subject to ratification, approval, acceptance, accession or the mutual notification of completion of procedures are laid before Parliament for scrutiny purposes for a period of 21 parliamentary sitting days under the provisions of the Constitutional Reform and Governance Act 2010 (Part 2: ratification of treaties) which commenced on 11 November 2010. This legislation provides that the UK cannot legally ratify or consent to be bound by a treaty laid under its provisions until the statutory 21 sitting day process has elapsed. During the 21 sitting days, hon Members and Select Committees have the chance to scrutinise the treaty provisions, ask questions, and potentially report. They may ask for extra time. The Constitutional Reform and Governance Act does not guarantee a debate, but any request would have to be seriously considered. If Parliament debated and resolved that HMG “shall not ratify”, then the latter could not legally do so at that point.

Manufacturing Industries

Kevin Brennan: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what recent representations he has received on the potential merits of establishing a materials catapult for manufacturing.

Joseph Johnson: The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Apprentices

Michelle Donelan: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what estimate he has made of the financial contribution made by employers to apprenticeship training in the last 12 months.

Nick Boles: Details of the proportions of employers who paid fees to a provider can be found in The Apprenticeships Evaluation: Employer Survey 20151.The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills does not hold information on the financial contributions paid by employers.1https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/apprenticeships-evaluation-employer-survey-2015

Apprentices

Phil Boswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, how much has been spent on television advertising for the Government's apprenticeship programme in each year since 2006.

Nick Boles: The Government has spent the following amounts on TV media to advertise apprenticeships in the financial years since 2006.These costs are exclusive of VAT.2006/7£02007/8£02008/9£2,764,5572009/10£02010/11£02011/12£02012/13£02013/14£02014/15£927,2872015/16£02016/17£1,499,997 (spend to 23 June 2016)

Apprentices: Taxation

Michelle Donelan: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, with reference to the Government's guidance entitled Apprenticeship levy: how it will work, published on 21 April 2016, whether levy-paying employers wishing to recruit above their levy amount and 10 per cent top-up will be required to make a cash contribution towards the cost of training rather than an in-kind contribution.

Nick Boles: Where an employer has spent all of their levy contributions and 10% top-up, and wishes to spend more on additional apprenticeship training, they will be required to make a cash contribution towards the cost. The Government will provide generous support to help meet the additional training costs. Further detail on funding rates will be published shortly.

Living Wage

Margaret Ferrier: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, whether he plans to raise the national living wage to the same rate as the living wage set by the Living Wage Foundation.

Nick Boles: The Government’s ambition is for the National Living Wage to reach 60% of median earnings by 2020 – which would currently be around £9 per hour. The Government has asked the Low Pay Commission to recommend the National Living Wage rate going forward.

Department for International Development

Developing Countries: HIV Infection

Mr Virendra Sharma: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, pursuant to the Answer of 5 March 2014, to Question 902851, what steps her Department has taken to ensure that the 12 collaborative TB-HIV activities recommended by the World Health Organisation are being implemented through its bilateral programmes; and what assessment has been made of the effect to date of the steps taken.

Mr Nick Hurd: DFID actively seeks to incorporate WHO guidance into its programmes. WHO urges national TB and HIV programmes to incorporate its recommendations, so our investments contribute to them implementing the 12 point package of collaborative TB/HIV activities. We have ensured our health advisers are aware of the WHO guidance so that they are able to discuss these with the TB and HIV control programmes in the countries we support.Assessments of progress are drawn from publically available UNAIDS and WHO Global reports; these show significant advances in recent years. UK support, notably through the Global Fund to fight AIDS, TB and malaria, has been instrumental in the achievement of these gains.

Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what assessment her Department has made of the merits of the Investment Case prepared by the Global Fund to fight AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria in preparation for its replenishment conference on 16 September 2016.

Mr Nick Hurd: The investment case projects that a successful replenishment will enable the Global Fund to save 8 million lives and avert up to 300 million new infections over the replenishment period 2017-2019. The UK wishes to see a successful replenishment, both the investment case and the conclusions of the Multilateral Aid Review and Bilateral Aid Review will be important in determining the Government’s contribution to the fifth replenishment.

Developing Countries: Soil

Jeremy Lefroy: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what research and development her Department is funding into the potential role of agroforestry in improving soil health and condition and prevention of erosion.

Mr Nick Hurd: The Department for International Development supports a number of research programmes that assess the use of agroforestry to promote soil health and prevent as well as reduce erosion. This includes, for example, work with the International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED) and the global Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security research programme (CCAFS).My Department also supports a wide range of development programmes with agro-ecological components, from agroforestry, soil and water conservation, land use management to climate resilience and conservation agriculture. These include, for example, The Adaptation for Smallholder Agriculture Programme (ASAP), and Building Resilience and Adaptation to Climate Extremes and Disasters (BRACED). The full range of our programmes can be found on our Development Tracker website.

Department for International Development: Soil

Jeremy Lefroy: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, how many undergraduates studying (a) soil biology, (b) soil chemistry and (c) combined soil biology and chemistry her Department is sponsoring at (i) UK universities and colleges and (ii) universities and colleges in third countries.

Mr Nick Hurd: DFID is not currently centrally funding any undergraduates studying (a) soil biology, (b) soil chemistry or (c) combined soil biology and chemistry at (i) UK universities and college or (ii) universities and colleges in third countries.

Developing Countries: Soil

Jeremy Lefroy: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, whether her Department provides support to farmer networks and farmer-to-farmer training to promote good soil management.

Mr Nick Hurd: DFID is supporting farmer networks and farmer to farmer training on soil management. For example we fund the International Fund for Agriculture Development’s Adaptation for Smallholder Agriculture Programme (ASAP). This is assisting farmers networks on the promotion of better land and soil management practices and technologies including those developed under our support by the international agriculture research organisation the CGIAR.For example in Nigeria ASAP is supporting the establishment and strengthening of community development associations for 200,000 smallholder farmers to adopt agricultural practices that both reduce soil erosion and their risks to climate change.We are also funding farmer to farmer training under our country programmes. In Zambia this is focussed on climate smart agriculture and better management of soils. While in Malawi our support on conservation agriculture has helped 60,000 smallholder farmers to increase their crop yields and incomes by 25% on average.

Developing Countries: Children

Mr Graham Allen: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what programmes her Department supports related to children and religious fundamentalism; and if she will make a statement.

Justine Greening: If there is a face of poverty, it is often a young face, and young people are at the heart of DFID’s agenda. We combat poverty, and religious fundamentalism, by investing in young people and their future, which is why our focus on education is so important.

South Sudan: Overseas Aid

Sir Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of her Department's work in South Sudan.

Mr Nick Hurd: In 2016 DFID support in South Sudan has contributed to 2.3 million people receiving life-saving humanitarian assistance. Our education programmes have enabled 120,000 girls to complete primary education and provided 9.2 million textbooks. DFID’s Health Pooled Fund has provided primary care treatment to 8.7 million people.

Developing Countries: Education

Antoinette Sandbach: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what steps her Department is taking to support the education of girls in developing countries.

Sir Desmond Swayne: The UK is strongly committed to providing education for girls. The UK’s flagship Girls’ Education Challenge (GEC) programme is the world’s largest global fund dedicated to girls’ education. UKAID has supported over 6.6 million girls in developing countries to receive a quality education, of whom 1.6 million were at particularly high risk of missing out.

Sri Lanka: Overseas Aid

Wes Streeting: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what assistance her Department is providing to Sri Lanka.

Sir Desmond Swayne: DFID’s bilateral aid to Sri Lanka ended in 2006 when middle income status was achieved. We continue to support them through multilateral organisations and through centrally managed DFID programmes. In 2014 these amounted to at least £28m.

Ukraine: Overseas Aid

Danny Kinahan: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what assistance her Department has provided to separatist occupied areas of eastern Ukraine in the last two years.

Sir Desmond Swayne: Since 2014 the UK has been the fourth-largest provider of humanitarian assistance to vulnerable people affected by the crisis in Ukraine.

Syria: Overseas Aid

Tom Elliott: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what recent assessment she has made of the effect of UK aid in Syria.

Sir Desmond Swayne: To date, we have allocated £561 million to support people inside Syria. By May 2016, this had provided 16.3 million food rations; access to clean water for 2 million people; 3.5 million medical consultations; 5.1 million relief packages; and 8.3 million sanitation and hygiene activities.

Developing Countries: Sustainable Development

Chris Law: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what steps her Department is taking to ensure cross-departmental coordination of implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals.

Sir Desmond Swayne: The Global Goals were a historic global agreement to eradicate extreme poverty and achieve sustainable development. DFID is working closely with the Cabinet Office and other departments to ensure a joined-up approach to implementing the Goals. The Government will produce a report on the UK’s contribution to implementation this year.

Non-governmental Organisations: Pay

Derek Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what representations she has made to non-governmental organisations which receive funding from her Department on senior management salaries in those organisations.

Sir Desmond Swayne: The National Council for Voluntary Organisations, backed by the Charity Commission, has encouraged more transparency on pay issues and introduced new pay guidelines. DFID Ministers have consistently demanded that NGOs are transparent and open with donors and the public.

Developing Countries: Corruption

Maggie Throup: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what assessment she has made of the potential effect of the outcomes of the Anti-Corruption Summit in May 2016 on developing countries.

Sir Desmond Swayne: The commitments agreed at the London Summit could potentially achieve major benefits for developing countries including preventing their resources from being stolen and hidden abroad; ensuring international systems recover these funds whilst punishing perpetrators; and helping citizens have greater opportunities to seek justice against corruption.

Department for Education

Academies

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, which Commissioner would make the decision in a case where a multi academy trust operating in one region wished to expand by adding a school in another region.

Edward Timpson: The National Schools Commissioner allocates a lead Regional Schools Commissioner (RSC) to Multi Academy Trusts (MATs) and sponsors who are operating across more than one region.The lead RSC ‘owns’ the relationship with the MAT, and is responsible for negotiating any strategic decisions, such as expansion, which has an impact on multiple regions.Where a MAT wants to operate across more than one region, the lead RSC would meet with the trust and agree to the expansion in principle. The formal decision concerning the individual academy or free school joining the MAT is taken by the RSC for the region in which the school is located. The decision is informed by the lead RSC’s view of the MAT’s capacity and capability.For national trusts, that have a relationship with the National School Commissioner, decisions by RSCs about MAT expansion are informed by the views of the National Schools Commissioner who has a national view of the trust’s capacity.This information is publicly available and can be found in the RSC decision-making framework on GOV.UK at: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/517565/RSC-Decision-Making-Framework.pdf

Academies

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to the Answer of 15 June 2016 to Question 40256, what steps she is taking to ensure that a school which is not required formally to consult about academy conversion takes into account the views of local stakeholders.

Edward Timpson: As set out in the answer to question 40256, the Education and Adoption Act 2016 requires that where schools are eligible for intervention, the incoming sponsor of the academy is required to communicate to parents its plans for improving the school. The Department will confirm that sponsors have complied with this duty prior to enter into a Funding Agreement with the Trust.

Pupils: Absenteeism

William Wragg: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to the Oral Statement of the Minister of State for Schools of 19 May 2016, on term-time holidays, what progress the Government has made on improving levels of school attendance.

Nick Gibb: The High Court oral judgment represents a significant threat to one of the Government’s most important achievements in education over the last six years, improving school attendance.There is abundant academic research which shows that time spent in school is one of the single strongest determinants of a pupil’s academic success. The most recent was published by the Department on 24 March, and shows that every extra day of school missed can affect a child’s attainment at the end of key stage 2 and key stage 4. This is unfair on children and potentially damaging to their life chances.That is why we have unashamedly pursued a zero tolerance policy on unauthorised absence. We have increased the penalty notices issued to parents for pupils with unauthorised absence, shortened the time it takes to pay a notice from 42 day to 21 days, placed a greater emphasis on school attendance levels in inspection outcomes. We have also tightened the regulations in relation to term time holidays, so that headteachers should only grant such leave in exceptional circumstances. These measures have been very successful.The number of persistent absentees in England’s schools has dropped by over 40% from 433,000 in 2009/10 to 246,000 in 2014/15. Some 6 million fewer days were lost due to authorised absences in the first five half terms in 2014/15 compared to the equivalent period in 2012/13 - a drop from a total of 47.9 million days missed to 41.8 million days missed. Overall absence rates have followed a significant downward trend: from 6.5% in the academic year ending in 2007 to 4.6% in the academic year ending in 2015. In 2012/13, 7.0% of all absences were accounted for by authorised term time holiday. This figure dropped to 2.6% of all absences in 2013/14 and 1.6% of all absences in 2014/15.This means that pupils are spending many more hours in school being taught the knowledge and skills they need to succeed in life. If we are going to address entrenched academic underachievement, continuing to improve school attendance will play a central role in achieving such an ambition.

Two Trees School Denton

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to the Answer of 26 May 2016 to Question 37464, whether Tameside has applied for the disposal of the former Two Trees High School site in Denton.

Edward Timpson: At this time I am not aware of an application by Tameside Metropolitan Borough Council to seek approval to dispose of the former Two Trees Sports College, including the playing fields.

Academies: Procurement

Mr Jamie Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether her Department has a policy on ethical procurement by academy chains.

Mr Jamie Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what her Department's policy is on sharing of core teams between multiple academies in multi-academy trusts.

Mr Jamie Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the transparency of the procurement processes used by academy chains.

Edward Timpson: All academy trusts, including chains, must follow the procurement requirements in the Academies Financial Handbook published by the Education Funding Agency. They must apply the principles of regularity, propriety and value for money, and ensure that transactions are even-handed so that conflicts of interest are managed. Within this framework, academy trusts are responsible for their own purchasing decisions including the achievement of appropriate ethical standards.Within the framework set out in the Academies Financial Handbook, multi-academy trusts are free to establish and structure core teams that best suit their circumstances. We have a range of measures in place to ensure that transparency is strong in the academies sector. Academy trusts must have a competitive tendering policy and comply with requirements for public procurement. Unlike local authority maintained schools, when buying from related parties academy trusts must do so at no more than ‘cost’. They must also publish details of relevant business and pecuniary interests on their website.Academy trusts must also comply with the Public Contracts Regulations which are based on the principles of transparency, non-discrimination and equal treatment.

Bright Tribe Multi-academy Trust

Mr Jamie Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what discussions her Department has had with Bright Tribe academy trust on procurement practice.

Mr Jamie Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment the National Audit Office has made of Bright Tribe multi-academy trust; and what response her Department has made to those findings.

Edward Timpson: The department has assessed the procurement arrangements at Bright Tribe trust as part of a financial management and assurance review by the EFA. The review highlighted that the trust procurement practices had not followed a recognised open market tendering procurement exercise and that the majority of the trusts services had been outsourced to companies connected to its sponsor. The company provided at cost statements for these services and the external auditors did not raise any issues with at cost. The Trust has introduced a new procurement model which is currently under review by the EFA.The NAO contacted the EFA in February 2016 regarding related party transactions at Bright Tribe. The NAO have been kept updated on the EFA review of the Bright Tribe case.

Offences against Children

Nigel Adams: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department takes to ensure that (a) her Department and (b) agencies and other bodies of her Department follow guidance and legislation relating to the safeguarding of young people from child sexual exploitation.

Nigel Adams: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what measures her Department implemented in response to child sexual exploitation in Rotherham to ensure that statutory policy, guidance and legislation was being effectively delivered by (a) councils, (b) children's services, (c) police, (d) schools, (e) health bodies and (f) other agencies with a statutory responsibility to safeguard young people from child sexual exploitation.

Edward Timpson: It is hugely important that all cases where a child might be suffering and/or is at risk of harm are looked into, so that children get the help they need to prevent issues escalating. There is a very clear framework in place for all professionals who work with children to report concerns. The statutory guidance Working Together to Safeguard Children (2015) emphasises that safeguarding is the responsibility of all professionals who work with children.The Department does receive correspondence and information from professionals and members of the public, alerting staff that they believe a child may be at risk of harm. Procedures are in place to ensure that in such circumstances if the Department’s staff and its Agencies, including the Education Funding Agency (EFA), believe a child is at immediate risk of harm, steps are taken to notify the Director of Children’s Services in the relevant local authority within 24 hours. Local Authorities have duties under the Children Act 1989 to safeguard and promote the welfare of children. It is for the local authority to undertake any assessment and provide services to keep children safe.In response to the failures we saw in Rotherham and elsewhere, the Government issued a revised version of the statutory guidance, ‘Working Together to Safeguard Children’ in 2015, setting out an unambiguous statement of accountability about the overarching responsibilities of local authorities to safeguard and promote the welfare of all children in their area. It also made clear the vital role of other professionals including police, schools, social workers and health in keeping children safe. ‘Working Together’ provides a clear framework for monitoring the effectiveness of local services and how they work together in fulfilling their duties.In discharging our role on safeguarding, the Department and EFA may also involve Ofsted. Where Ofsted considers a local authority to be failing in its responsibility to safeguard children then we will consider if we need to take decisive action and intervene directly to secure improvements.The Secretary of State for Education issued a direction in October 2014 appointing a Children’s Social Care Commissioner in Rotherham, with the task of investigating and addressing the council’s failings and recommending immediate next steps. Joint Directions with the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government were published in February 2015, enabling a team of Commissioners to exercise the functions of the council and oversee a programme of improvement.In March 2015, a number of Secretaries of State wrote to all chief constables; leaders and lead members of councils; chief executives of local authorities; health system leaders; and directors of children’s services to reinforce the need for leaders to take responsibility for addressing the failures shown by the Jay report and other inspections in their area. To ensure effective delivery we have worked with Ofsted, Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary, Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Probation and the Care Quality Commission to deliver a new system of joint targeted area inspections to better assess how local agencies are working in a co-ordinated manner to identify and respond to children at risk of abuse and neglect. The first round of inspections is underway with a specific focus on child sexual exploitation and a thematic report, setting out findings from the inspections and highlighting good practice, will be published in September.

Pupils: Exercise

Nic Dakin: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department has taken to work with the Department of Health on its upcoming childhood obesity strategy to encourage school-based activities to promote physical activity among young people.

Nic Dakin: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what role her Department has in drafting the Government's childhood obesity strategy; and when that strategy is due to be published.

Edward Timpson: We are working closely with colleagues both at the Department of Health and across Whitehall on the Childhood Obesity Strategy. Tackling obesity, particularly in children, is one of our major priorities. The Childhood Obesity Strategy, which will be launched in the late summer, will consider all the factors that contribute to a child becoming overweight and obese, and set out our plans to tackle this major challenge.The Obesity Strategy will complement our existing measures to promote school-based physical activity for pupils. PE remains a compulsory subject at all four key stages in the national curriculum, and the national curriculum sets out the expectation that pupils should be physically active for sustained periods of time. In addition, we have ring-fenced over £450 million to improve PE and sport in primary schools (2013/14 - 2015/16), and committed to doubling the primary PE and sport premium to £320 million a year from September 2017 using revenue from the soft drinks industry levy.

GCSE

Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many students in England achieved a GCSE grade (a) C, (b) D and (c) E as their highest grade in each of the last five years.

Nick Gibb: The number of students achieving a GCSE grade (a) C, (b) D and (c) E as their highest grade in each of the last five years[1] is provided below:  Students who have achieved a GCSE: Pupils at the end of key stage 4Grade C as their highest gradeGrade D as their highest gradeGrade E as their highest grade2011[2]627,093121,19050,84826,5492012620,617123,60146,91426,3222013632,397126,19747,05725,0692014[3]618,437115,17546,74521,9922015[4]611,081111,81544,69919,380Source Key Stage 4 attainment data.[1] Figures are based on final data.[2] From 2010/11, discounting has been applied where pupils have taken the same subject more than once and only one entry is counted in these circumstances. Only the first entry is counted, in all subjects, in line with the early entry guidance.[3] In 2013/14, two major reforms were implemented which affect the calculation of key stage 4 performance measures data: 1) Professor Alison Wolf’s Review of Vocational Education recommendations which: restrict the qualifications counted; prevent any qualification from counting as larger than one GCSE; and cap the number of non-GCSEs included in performance measures at two per pupil, and 2) an early entry policy to only count a pupil’s first attempt at a qualification, in subjects counted in the English Baccalaureate. Consequently, the numbers supplied prior to 2013/14 are not comparable with those from 2013/14 onwards.[4] In 2014/15, early entry policy, under which only a pupil’s first attempt at a qualification is counted in performance measures, was extended to all subjects.

GCE A-level

Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many students in England achieved an A-level grade (a) C, (b) D and (c) E as their highest grade in each of the last five years.

Nick Gibb: The number of students achieving an A-level grade (a) C, (b) D and (c) E as their highest grade in each of the last five years[1] is provided below:  Students[2] who have achieved an A-level[3]: Students entered for at least one A level or applied single/double award A levelGrade C as their highest gradeGrade D as their highest gradeGrade E as their highest grade2011258,89251,63224,9078,2702012262,00353,56725,1127,8832013261,46853,24224,2177,6662014257,39052,30223,9607,6192015266,18554,46623,9877,174Source 16-18 attainment data.[1] Figures are based on final data.[2] Covers students aged 16, 17 or 18 at the start of each academic year, ie 31 August.[3] Covers A level examination results for the academic year in concern.

Schools: Admissions

Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, when she plans to publish her Department's consultation on the changes to the School Admissions Code proposed in September 2015 on allowing parents to defer their summer born children's entry into school by a year.

Nick Gibb: We have announced our intention to amend the School Admissions Code to support summer born children by allowing them to delay entry to the reception year until they are five and for those children to remain with that cohort as they progress through school.We are currently considering whether any additional changes to the admissions system are necessary. Full details of proposed changes and of the consultation, including timings, will be announced in due course.

Schools: Admissions

Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to the letter from the Minister of State for Schools to local authorities and schools of 8 September 2015 on the admission to school of summer born children, if she will amend the School Admissions Code to ensure that parents are able to defer their summer born children's entry into school by a year.

Nick Gibb: We have announced our intention to amend the School Admissions Code to support summer born children by allowing them to delay entry to the reception year until they are five and for those children to remain with that cohort as they progress through school.We are currently considering whether any additional changes to the admissions system are necessary. Full details of proposed changes and of the consultation, including timings, will be announced in due course.

Schools: Property Transfer

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what her policy is on taking account of local communities producing a Neighbourhood Plan using powers in the Localism Act 2011 when a local authority makes a separate school site disposal application to her Department.

Edward Timpson: The Secretary of State considers any application to dispose of publicly funded school land on a case by case basis. Before consenting to a disposal she will consider the impact on the local community, including any community interest in the land or local plans for the site. The requirement to seek consent from the Secretary of State for the disposal of school land is however, an entirely separate process to any local planning considerations or requirements. Such matters are the responsibility of the local authority.

Academies

Jess Phillips: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many multi-academy trusts trustees have been removed from post under the Companies Act 2006.

Edward Timpson: The department’s model articles of association for academy trusts provide several routes by which trustees (directors) can be removed from their post, in addition to the Companies Act 2006. There is no role for the Secretary of State in removing a director using the procedure set out in that Act.When a director is removed from post, retires or resigns, the remaining directors must notify Companies House within 14 days, as required by the Act. There is no requirement to specify whether this was carried out using the procedure set out in the Act or using a different route. Separately, there is a requirement to notify the Secretary of State – via the Education Funding Agency – of the vacating or filling of the positions of chair of trustees, accounting officer and chief financial officer and all new appointments of trustees and members.

Free Schools

Jess Phillips: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many complaints her Department has received about consultations relating to new free schools.

Edward Timpson: Free schools trusts are required, under Section 10 of the Academies Act 2010, to consult those they think appropriate on whether to enter into a Funding Agreement with the Secretary of State to open the school, and to have due regard to the outcome of that consultation. The duty to consult rests solely with the trust and the Department does not direct trusts on how to execute their duty.Complaints about a particular consultation can be made directly to the Department. However the total number of complaints received relating to free school consultations is not recorded.

Ministry of Justice

Prisoners: Repatriation

Mr Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, with which other EU countries the UK does not have arrangements for the return of non-UK nationals to prisons in their country of origin.

Andrew Selous: The United Kingdom has prisoner transfer arrangements with all Member States of the European Union. With the exception of the Ireland and Bulgaria, all Member States have implemented Council Framework Decision 2008/909/JHA (the EU Prisoner Transfer Agreement). Poland has a partial derogation which expires in December 2016. Transfers to Ireland and Bulgaria may take place under the Council of Europe Convention on the Transfer of Sentenced Persons until such time as they implement the EU PTA.

Personal Injury

Andy Slaughter: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment he made of the potential effect of changes to personal injury law and procedure announced by the Chancellor in the Spending Review and Autumn Statement 2015, on the recoupment of NHS treatment costs before that announcement was made; and if he will make a statement.

Andy Slaughter: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment he has made of the effect on VAT receipts of changes to personal injury law and procedure announced in the Spending Review and Autumn Statement 2015 before making that announcement; and if he will make a statement.

Dominic Raab: The Ministry of Justice received and analysed data from numerous sources when formulating the announcement in the Chancellor’s Autumn Statement. It will continue to work with a wide range of stakeholders including other Government Departments, solicitors and insurers in taking forward the new reforms. The Government will consult on the detail of these measures in due course. The consultation will be accompanied by a detailed impact assessment.

Ministry of Justice: Secondment

Andy Slaughter: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many of his Department's staff are seconded to work in other countries.

Mike Penning: There are no Ministry of Justice staff seconded to work in other countries.

Interpreters

Andy Slaughter: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, with reference to the Answer of 14 April 2016 to Question 33365, on interpreters, what the value was of each of the 44 service credits imposed on Capita; and what amount Capita was paid in each month in which service credits were imposed.

Mr Shailesh Vara: Since we introduced a new interpreting contract in 2012 we have incurred an estimated £38m less expenditure than we would have done under historic arrangements.The most recent published performance figures show the successful completion of service requests to be at their highest level, and the number of complaints at their lowest, since the contract began. This information can be located at:https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/statistics-on-the-use-of-language-services-in-courts-and-tribunals-january-2012-december-2013The table below sets out the value of the service credits paid by Capita-TI and the corresponding contractual payment made to Capita-TI for each of the months in which a service credit was recovered. 20122013201420152012201320142015 Service CreditsPaymentsJan £3,070£886£672  £1,672,708£1,595,836Feb£3,166£3,164£1,097£982£110,342 £1,325,870£1,217,330Mar£3,619£3,650£1,181£874£733,081£2,136,114£1,584,526£1,721,189Apr£1,328£4,119£1,202£573£494,816£1,962,522£1,650,569£1,620,983May£832£3,170£1,094£530£694,283£854,605£1,585,361£1,636,787Jun£605£1,763£973£186£798,555£1,186,489£1,482,547£1,496,218Jul£744£1,153£988£86£1,116,427£1,325,215£1,517,004£1,875,319Aug£460£1,153£775£102£1,003,770£1,451,575£1,595,201£1,744,308Sep£560£970£778£37£944,674£1,407,432£1,339,967£1,773,692Oct£1,028£1,711£868 £975,583£1,492,456£1,552,616 Nov£1,201£1,342£768 £877,801£1,543,552£1,421,166 Dec£854£1,419£542 £914,604£1,595,584£1,726,119 Total£56,678£56,754,796 The requirement for language services is currently being retendered in order to replace the current contract with Capita-TI which expires in October 2016. The new contracts contain improved key performance indicators and more robust contractual remedies, including liquidated damages, for service failures.

Remand in Custody: Social Media

Royston Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what measures are in place to prevent people remanded in custody from accessing social media platforms.

Royston Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether measures are in place to prevent people remanded in custody from distributing passwords for social media platforms for use by people not in custody.

Royston Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what powers his Department has to block access to social media sites for people awaiting sentencing.

Andrew Selous: An extensive programme of work is underway to prevent prisoners having access to mobile phones. As the Prime Minister said on 8 February 2016, we are working with the mobile network operators to challenge them to do more, including developing new technological solutions, so we can block mobile phones’ signals in prisons.Although there are no rules to prevent prisoners on remand from passing on passwords for social media platforms, prisoners, including those on remand in custody, are not allowed access to social media platforms either directly or via a third party.It is a criminal offence for a person to take or transmit any image or sound from within a prison and send it outside the prison and where a link between a prisoner and content posted on social media is identified, the case will be referred to the police. A sentence of up to two years can be given if those charged are found guilty. If the police decide not to pursue a criminal investigation, a prisoner can be punished under the prison disciplinary system, for example, by having privileges removed or additional days added to their time in prison.

Ministry of Defence

Maritime Patrol Aircraft

Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether his Department made an assessment of the potential merits of procuring an alternative to the P-8 Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft before the decision on that procurement was made.

Mr Philip Dunne: As my hon. Friend the Minister of State for the Armed Forces said on 23 June 2015 in response to Question 3244 to the hon. Member for East Lothian (George Kerevan) the capabilities required from a Maritime Patrol Aircraft were studied by the Department for two and a half years before the UK's requirement for the capability was confirmed in the Strategic Defence and Security Review 2015. During that time the Boeing P-8 Poseidon and a number of other potential platforms were assessed against their ability to meet the Department's Key User Requirements, using a combination of scientific, technical and operational analysis, as well as industry's ability to deliver the programme in a timely and cost-effective manner.

Armed Forces: Training

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the out-turn cost was of (a) Army Foundation College, Harrogate and (b) Infantry Training Centre, Catterick in the most recent financial year for which figures are available; and what proportion of that cost was attributable to the army's initial training programme.

Penny Mordaunt: The out-turn costs attributable to the Army for financial year 2015-16 are as follows: Unit2015-16 (£ million)Army Foundation College62.877Infantry Training Centre100.386 All of these costs are attributable to the Army’s initial training programme and include military and civilian manpower, as well as running costs.

Defence Sixth Form College

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what proportion of sponsored students at the Defence Sixth Form College, Welback become either officers in the armed forces or employees of his Department after graduating from university.

Mark Lancaster: The current proportion of Sponsored students at Welbeck who enter Initial Officer Training (IOT) with one of the three Armed Services, or a career in the Ministry of Defence (MOD), after graduating from university is over 70%.The information provided is based on a rolling cycle of figures using the 2007-2009 school entry figures set against the numbers in the same years who passed into IOT with the Armed Services or the MOD. The figures are 74, 71 and 73% respectively. Whilst we have Welbeck entry figures from 2010 onward, the final figures moving on from university are not yet available as not all students have completed their education yet, with most of the 2010 entry completing this year.

Veterans: Employment

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what proportion of early service leavers is in employment (a) six months and (b) one year after discharge.

Mark Lancaster: This information is not held in the format requested. Resettlement Provision in the Ministry of Defence is delivered through the Career Transition Partnership (CTP) which was expanded in autumn 2015 to include Early Service Leavers (ESL). We will publish a CTP Official Statistic in January 2017 which will include the six month post-discharge employment outcomes for ESL.

Type 45 Destroyers

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will outline the original intended purpose of the Type 45 destroyers, and the regions of the world where his Department originally intended to deploy those destroyers once completed.

Mr Philip Dunne: The Type 45 Destroyers are designed for world-wide operations, from sub-Arctic to extreme tropical environments, and continue to operate effectively in various regions, from the Gulf and the South Atlantic all year round. The Type 45 is not only a world class anti-air warfare destroyer; it is also a multi-role, general purpose platform, able to contribute effectively to a range of world-wide maritime, joint and Coalition operations.

Type 26 Frigates

Ian Murray: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the effect of changes to the timetable for work to commence on building the new Type 26 Frigate on the skills base in the affected shipyards.

Ian Murray: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the effect of changes to the timetable for work to commence on building the new Type 26 Frigate on the recruitment and retention of workers in the affected shipyards.

Ian Murray: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the effect of changes to the timetable for work to commence on building the new Type 26 Frigate on the recruitment and training of apprentices in the affected shipyards.

Mr Philip Dunne: I refer the hon. Member to the oral answer I gave during Defence questions in the House on 27 June 2016 to the hon. Member for Rutherglen and Hamilton West (Margaret Ferrier).The Government have already invested £1.6 billion in the Type 26 programme. We will only enter into a contract once we are confident of the delivery schedule and the ability of the contractors to meet that schedule on a cost effective basis.



20160627-Hansard extract on Type 26 Frigates
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RAF Northolt

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether his Department has plans in the next three years to stop flights into or out of RAF Northolt to enable work to reinforce or rebuild the runway at that base; and if he will make a statement.

Mark Lancaster: Plans are being considered to reinforce the aerodrome operating surfaces at RAF Northolt in that timescale, and to introduce improvements to the safety zones at either end of the runway with an engineered material arresting system. However, until the scope of works is fully defined, we are not in a position to identify what impact these planned works may have on flying activity at RAF Northolt.

Department for Work and Pensions

Universal Credit

Margaret Hodge: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many (a) consultancy firms and (b) people have been employed by his Department to work on the Universal Credit programme in (i) the 2015-16 financial year and (ii) this financial year to date; and how much his Department has spent on those firms and people in those financial years.

Priti Patel: (i) For the financial year from 1st April 2015 to 31st March 2016, the Universal Credit programme paid for consultancy services from two firms at a total cost of £4.3m. These were service based contracts and we are unable to specify the number of people employed by these firms. (ii) For the current financial year, costs from 1st April 2016 to 31st May 2016 are available. Over this period £54k was paid to one firm for consultancy services. Again we are unable to clearly specify the number of people employed.

Social Security Benefits: Disqualification

Mr Roger Godsiff: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what information his Department holds on the cost to his Department of processing mandatory reconsiderations in each of the last three years.

Justin Tomlinson: The Department for Work and Pensions has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Children: Maintenance

Steve McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment he has made of the implications for his policies of the findings of Gingerbread's report, Missing Maintenance, published in June 2016; what plans he has to implement the recommendations of that report; and if he will make a statement.

Priti Patel: We are currently considering the recommendations contained in the Gingerbread report, Missing Maintenance. In relation to the recommendation on deductions from joint bank accounts, we have already started taking steps to implement this power and will be launching a public consultation soon on our proposed process to enable deductions from joint bank accounts.We remain committed to pursuing those parents who do not willingly meet their financial responsibilities to their children. The Child Maintenance Service has a range of effective enforcement powers intended to help ensure all parents fulfil their financial responsibilities towards their children including taking deductions directly from earnings and bank accounts.

Children: Maintenance

Steve McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 24 May 2016 to Question 37683, on child maintenance arrears, on how many occasions his Department has used each of the enforcement powers referred to in that Answer in each of the last five years.

Priti Patel: For the 1993 and 2003 Schemes the information you requested is set out on Page 40 of the Child Support Agency quarterly summary of statistics which can be accessed online at: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/child-support-agency-quarterly-summary-of-statistics-march-2016 Information on enforcement for the 2012 scheme could only be provided at disproportionate cost.

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Fisheries

Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to (a) ratify the Cape Town agreement and (b) otherwise tackle illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing in the High Seas.

George Eustice: The UK supports ratification of the Cape Town agreement and will ratify when legal priorities allow, which is a matter for the Department of Transport. The UK already applies the 1993 Torremolinos Protocol relating to the Torremolinos International Convention for the Safety of Fishing Vessels through the Fishing Vessels (EC Directive on Harmonised Safety Regime) Regulations 1999. The UK Government, through the Marine Management Organisation (MMO), has been at the forefront of international measures to tackle Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing, which remains a major threat, not just to the world’s fish stocks, but to its marine biodiversity and the livelihoods and security of coastal communities. The UK acts, alongside other European Union nations, to deny market access to products from IUU fishing, and to support third countries in developing their capability to detect and deter IUU fishing. Ground breaking work has also recently taken place between the MMO and UK based insurance companies to promote and encourage compliance with IUU regulations.

Hazardous Substances: Waste Disposal

Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to stop the illegal export of electronic and other hazardous waste from the UK to Africa.

Rory Stewart: The UK is a Party to the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Waste and their Disposal, which sets controls on the shipments of waste from developed to developing countries. This is implemented through the Waste Shipment Regulations and the UK Plan (on import and export of waste) which bans the export of waste for disposal to non-OECD countries.The UK environment agencies enforce the Regulations in the UK. They have adopted an intelligence-led approach to identify and disrupt the movement of waste intended for illegal export.

Department for Communities and Local Government

Planning Permission

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, with reference to paragraph 7 on page 2 of the National Planning Policy Framework, published in March 2012 whether his Department has made an assessment of the extent to which the UK's carbon budgets and 2050 climate target is taken into account by planning authorities when making planning decisions.

Brandon Lewis: Holding answer received on 27 June 2016



The National Planning Policy Framework is clear that sustainable development should be at the heart of planning, and should be pursued in a positive and integrated way. It makes it clear that policies set out in paragraphs 18 to 219, taken as a whole, constitute the Government's view of what sustainable development in England means in practice for the planning system – both in preparing local plans and taking decisions on individual planning applications. It is for the decision-maker to take these policies into account when considering applications for development.

Fracking: Planning Permission

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, if he will wait until the Committee on Climate Change report on the compatibility of UK onshore petroleum with meeting UK carbon budgets and the Government's response is published before taking any decision to reverse (a) the planning decision against fracking made by Lancashire County Council and (b) any other planning decisions that are made by local authorities concerning the extraction of shale gas.

James Wharton: Secretary of State planning casework decisions are taken on the basis of the material considerations before the Secretary of State.

Local Plans

Michael Tomlinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what requirements his Department places on local authorities to demonstrate that their Local Plans will meet identified national house-building need.

Michael Tomlinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what national targets for housebuilding are expected to be reflected in Local Plans.

Brandon Lewis: This Government does not set national housing targets. The National Planning Policy Framework is clear that Local Plans should meet the full, objectively assessed needs for housing in the housing market area, as far as is consistent with the policies set out in the Framework. As part of this, local authorities should identify, and update annually, a supply of specific deliverable sites sufficient to provide five years of housing against their housing requirements. Local authorities also have a duty to cooperate on strategic planning priorities such as providing the homes that are needed.

Alevism

Joan Ryan: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what plans his Department has to engage with representatives from the Alevi community in Britain.

Mr Marcus Jones: Ministers in the Department for Communities and Local Government meet members of minority communities on a regular basis. My officials are happy to meet with representatives of the British Alevi community and discuss items that have been raised by the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Alevis.

Social Rented Housing: Bradford

Judith Cummins: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, whether his Department has made an estimate of the number of families in Bradford who will move home as a result of pay to stay provisions of the Housing and Planning Act 2016 during the current Parliament.

Brandon Lewis: Holding answer received on 27 June 2016



The Government believes social tenants on higher incomes should contribute a fairer level of rent. More than 90 percent of tenants will be unaffected by our plans. Many above the threshold will be protected from big rent rises through our tapered approach.All of Bradford’s council housing stock was transferred to housing association control in 2003. The policy is voluntary for housing associations so it would be for the housing association managing the stock to decide whether to operate a pay to stay approach.

Right to Buy Scheme: Housing Associations

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the replacement rate of housing association properties sold through right-to-buy in each year since the launch of that policy; and if he will make a statement.

Brandon Lewis: Holding answer received on 27 June 2016



Under the voluntary agreement with the National Housing Federation and housing associations, every home sold to tenants will result in an additional home being provided. This will lead to an increase in overall housing supply.The voluntary agreement states that housing associations and the Government share a mutual objective to ensure that replacement homes are delivered as quickly as possible. Whilst aiming for replacement within two years, the default position is that housing associations will have flexibility to replace homes within a three year period.

Housing: Construction

Gordon Henderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, whether the Government plans to bring forward proposals in the Neighbourhood and Planning and Infrastructure Bill to remove the requirement for developers to carry out archaeological and wildlife surveys before starting housing projects.

Brandon Lewis: Holding answer received on 27 June 2016



There are no plans to change a Local Authority's ability to propose conditions that meet the policy tests in the National Planning Policy Framework; including conditions related to archaeology and wildlife. The Neighbourhood Planning and Infrastructure Bill will include measures to ensure that pre-commencement planning conditions are only imposed where they are absolutely necessary.

Multiple Occupation

Royston Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what measures are in place to apply restrictions to houses in multiple occupation that are located in areas associated with the night-time economy.

Brandon Lewis: Where Houses in Multiple Occupation are having a detrimental effect on a locality’s night time economy, local authorities have a range of powers to manage their proliferation and poor management. Whilst all large Houses in Multiple Occupation are subject to mandatory licensing, local authorities have a discretionary power to license small Houses in Multiple Occupation in a designated area. Local authorities also have planning powers to limit the proliferation of Houses in Multiple Occupation within their locality. Where there is sufficient evidence of the need to do so, a local planning authority may withdraw a permitted development right in a specific area using an article 4 direction, after consultation with the local community.

Council Housing: Evictions

Karen Lumley: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, whether his Department maintains central records on the number of council tenants who are evicted from their tenancies and the reason for those evictions.

Brandon Lewis: The Department collects and publishes statistics on local authority tenant evictions and reasons for eviction. The information is published in the annual Local Authority Housing Statistics tables on rents, lettings and tenancies, which are available at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/local-authority-housing-data

Scotland Office

Asylum: Scotland

Ian Murray: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, pursuant to the Answer of 9 June 2016 to Question 38918, what discussions he has had with the Home Secretary on asylum seeker dispersal policy in Scotland since December 2015.

David Mundell: I am due to meet the Minister for Immigration soon to discuss a range of issues. Officials from the Scotland Office are in regular contact with officials from the Home Office on a range of issues concerning asylum seekers in Scotland, including asylum seeker dispersal policy. The Home Office is currently in direct discussions with the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities and a number of local authorities on how asylum dispersal will continue to work in practice. The Home Office maintains an active partnership with local government across the UK, including those in Scotland, and funds Strategic Migration Partnerships to plan for the most appropriate dispersal of asylum seekers. The partnerships consider the impact on communities and local services so that adjustments to dispersal patterns can be made where appropriate.

Citizens Advice Scotland: Finance

Ian Murray: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, pursuant to the Answer of 14 June 2016 to Question 40187, whether the Government plans to transfer the funding of Citizens Advice Scotland to the Scottish Government.

David Mundell: The UK Government Department for Business, Innovation and Skills has been clear in its public statements that it continues to provide Citizens Advice Scotland with core funding and they have no plans to transfer responsibility for this funding to the Scottish Government.

HM Treasury

Bank Services

Julian Knight: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will discuss with the banking sector steps to ensure that individuals seeking to switch their current account are able to access their historical transaction data to better enable them to secure a similar overdraft to their existing one with a new provider.

Harriett Baldwin: The Government is committed to increasing competition in banking to ensure banks have to work hard to offer the best possible products and services to their customers. A key part of that is making the process for customers switching their current accounts as easy and as effective as possible, to ensure customers are able to hold their banks to account by voting with their feet. The Government has already undertaken a lot of work to improve the process for customers switching their current accounts, including helping to deliver the Current Account Switch Service to enable customers to switch banks simply, quickly and reliably, and delivering midata, to enable customers to compare which bank is best for them based on how they use their current account. As part of its retail banking market investigation, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) is considering what additional improvements could be made to the process of customers switching current accounts, including requiring banks to make historical transaction data available and making it easier for customers to switch their overdraft when they move banks. The CMA is also considering other additional measures designed to support overdraft users. The Government welcomes the CMA’s investigation, and stands ready to take action as necessary once it publishes its final report in the summer.

Money Advice Service

Julian Knight: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether any of the successor organisations to the Money Advice Service will have a specific remit to promote financial education amongst young people.

Julian Knight: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether any successor organisations to the Money Advice Service will have a remit to promote financial capability amongst the public.

Harriett Baldwin: The government is committed to improving financial capability among the public and recognises that increased financial capability for consumers will lead to better outcomes for both individuals and the wider economy. Helping hard-working people achieve their aspirations at every stage of their lives is at the heart of our long term plan. That is why we launched the Public Financial Guidance consultation in Budget 2016 to seek input on what role the government should play in promoting financial capability, and how the public provision of free-to-client, impartial financial guidance should be structured to give consumers the information they need to make financial decisions. The consultation closed on 8 June. The government is currently considering the responses and will respond in the Autumn. The government recognises the importance of giving young people the skills they need to make financial decisions, which is why financial education has been on the national secondary school curriculum in England since September 2014.

Welfare Tax Credits: Lone Parents

Fiona Mactaggart: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many tax credit cases which have been processed by Concentrix have involved single parents; and if he will make a statement.

Mr David Gauke: I refer the right honourable gentleman to the answer I gave on 4 February 2016 [24418].

VAT

Alison Thewliss: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the annual revenue arising from VAT on incontinence products is.

Mr David Gauke: VAT arising from the sale of incontinence products and VAT that is recovered on the purchase of incontinence products is not separately itemised on the VAT return, so the requested information is not available. However, there are many circumstances where incontinence products are supplied at the zero rate of VAT. This includes over the counter sales for personal use.

Bank Services: Fees and Charges

Richard Burgon: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment his Department has made of the effect of a FCA-regulated monthly maximum charge on unarranged overdrafts for personal current accounts.

Harriett Baldwin: The Government is clear that consumers must be able to access clear and transparent information about the charges that may apply to financial services products, including bank accounts. In addition, the Financial Conduct Authority requires firms to be clear, fair and not misleading when giving information to consumers, including on fees and charges. The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) is currently undertaking a market investigation into competition within the retail banking market, including personal current accounts. In its May 2016 provisional decision on remedies, the CMA proposed requiring banks to take steps including: a monthly maximum charge for unarranged overdrafts; alerts to help customers avoid unarranged overdraft charges; improving comparisons by allowing customers to share data on transactions with other banks and trusted third parties; and regular prompts for customers to check that they are getting good value from their banking provider.  The CMA’s investigation is ongoing and it is currently consulting on the provisional decision on remedies. The Government welcomes the CMA’s work as a crucial step towards the goal of a highly competitive banking system, and stands ready to take action as necessary once the CMA publishes its final report in the summer.

Value Added Tax Act 1994

Alison Thewliss: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will bring forward legislative proposals to revise references to handicapped people in Schedule 8 to the Value Added Tax Act 1994.

Mr David Gauke: The references to ‘handicapped’ people in Schedule 8 to the Value Added Tax Act 1994 are being considered alongside some other outdated terms that are used in the Schedule. This work will be taken forward carefully to ensure there are no unintended consequences as the terminology carries meaning that is derived from and interacts with other UK legislation.

Apprentices: Taxation

Phil Boswell: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate he has made of the amount Scottish businesses will pay on an annual basis under the proposed Apprenticeship Levy.

Greg Hands: The Apprenticeship Levy will apply across the UK and will be collected from employers on a UK wide basis. An allowance of £15,000 means only those with a paybill exceeding £3million will have to pay it; less than 2 per cent of all employers. Regional level estimates of those likely to pay the Apprenticeship Levy are not available. However, the UK government remains committed to doing all we can to make the system work for employers wherever they are in the UK.

Apprentices: Taxation

Phil Boswell: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what discussions he has had with Minister of the Scottish Government on the proposed Apprenticeship Levy.

Greg Hands: We are working with the Scottish Government and the other devolved administrations to ensure they can get their fair share of the levy and, as far as possible, to develop a system for administering the levy which complements the skills and apprenticeship policies of each of the devolved administrations.

Industrial Diseases: Compensation

Helen Goodman: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many HM Revenue and Customs staff are currently allocated to the production of employment histories for occupational disease compensation claims.

Helen Goodman: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether he has made an assessment of the additional staffing and resources required to deal with the backlog of employment histories for occupational disease compensation claims requested from HM Revenue and Customs.

Mr David Gauke: In response to the significant increase in demand for employment histories in recent years, HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has looked at a range of options for improving the Record Retrieval Service; this has included introducing measures such as prioritising requests relating to serious and life-threatening conditions (when specifically identified).  However, the key constraint to reducing turnaround times is the existing machinery used to manually access the microfilm records – as these machines are no longer manufactured. Therefore, the deployment of additional staff would have negligible impact on service levels. It is not possible to provide a figure for the number of HMRC staff currently allocated to the production of employment histories for occupational disease compensation claims, as requesters of this information are not required to specify the reason for their employment history request. However, around 200 full time equivalent staff are allocated to the department’s Record Retrieval Service.

Pensioners: Income Tax

Alan Brown: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many pensioners pay income tax at the higher rate.

Mr David Gauke: For 2013-14 it is estimated that 558,000 individuals above State Pension Age were liable for Income Tax charged at or above the higher rate. This is based on the most recent Survey of Personal Incomes (2013-14)

Pensions: Lump Sum Payments

Alan Brown: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether he plans to change the pension freedoms rules to allow people to withdraw a lump sum after drawing down their pension.

Harriett Baldwin: The Chancellor announced at the March Budget 2015 that the government intends to remove the restrictions on the sale of existing annuities. This will allow pensioners to sell the income they receive from their annuity. Subject to agreement from their annuity provider and there being a willing buyer, people will then be able to access their money either as a lump sum or arrange for it to be put into a drawdown product to use the proceeds more gradually. In December 2015, the government published its response to its initial consultation on these proposals confirming that the government intends to implement these proposals from April 2017.

Department for Energy and Climate Change

Solar Power: Feed-in Tariffs

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what estimate she has made of the number of domestic households that had solar panels installed under the Feed-in Tariffs scheme in the period to 31 December 2015 but did not apply for the generation tariff rate applicable at the time of the installation until after the tariff was reduced on 15 January 2016.

Andrea Leadsom: The Department for Energy and Climate Change has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Cabinet Office

Duke of York

Stephen Kinnock: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether any Government official or Minister discussed with the Crown Estate its decision not to report the incident of 13 March 2016 at Windsor Great Park involving Prince Andrew to the police.

John Penrose: There have been no discussions by Ministers or Government officials with the Crown Estate regarding its decision on this matter.

Census

Royston Smith: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what framework determines what will be included in the 2021 census.

Matthew Hancock: The Cabinet Office has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Department for Culture, Media and Sport

Nature Conservation: Tristan Da Cunha

Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assistance his Department is providing to protect the wildlife and habitats of Gough Island from invasive non-native species; and what support his Department plans to give to Tristan da Cunha Council's proposal to eradicate those species.

David Evennett: The Government is aware of the threat to the seabirds of Gough Island posed by invasive mice and plants. Research and scoping work has concluded that it should be possible to eradicate both the mice and the invasive groundcover which present the two main threats to the island’s biodiversity. Together with colleagues across government, we are currently reviewing the options for addressing the problem and the necessary action to ensure the protection of these rare and endangered species and to protect the World Heritage Site status of Gough Island.

Department of Health

NHS: Conditions of Employment

Paula Sherriff: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to the Answer of 28 April 2016 to Question 35252, how many staff within the scope of the HM Treasury guidance on senior off-payroll engagements were paid off-payroll in (a) NHS trusts in 2013-14 and (b) NHS foundation trusts in 2012-13.

Alistair Burt: Information collected by the NHS Trust Development Authority showed that as of 31 March 2014 there were 961 staff engaged by National Health Service trusts within the scope of the HM Treasury guidance. Information collected by the Health and Social Care Information Centre indicated that at 31 March 2013 there were 1,267 such staff engaged by NHS foundation trusts (FTs). The numbers of Board off-payroll staff have declined consistently since the introduction of the HM Treasury guidance in August 2012. In 2012/13 there was a total of 2,403 engagements in trusts and FTs of which 200 were Board members or senior officials with significant financial responsibility. In 2013/14, there was a total of 2,070 of which 118 were Board members or senior officials with significant financial responsibility. In 2014/15, there were 1,193 in NHS trusts of which 52 were senior officials with significant financial responsibility. Figures for FTs in 2014/15 are not yet available. The Department continues to work with NHS Improvement to ensure that all off-payroll engagements comply with tax law and HM Treasury guidance.

Aston Hall Hospital: Offences against Children

Mrs Louise Ellman: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what progress has been made on the inquiry into historical allegations of abuse at Aston Hall, Derbyshire; when he expects that inquiry to report; and if he will make a statement.

Alistair Burt: We are aware that a number of serious allegations have been raised about abuse that took place at the former Aston Hall Hospital during the 1960s and 1970s. Derbyshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, the local provider of mental health services, advises that an investigation is currently underway by a partnership of agencies, including health services and the police, co-ordinated through the Derbyshire Safeguarding Children’s Board.The timescales for any system-wide Serious Case Review or Learning Review will depend on the outcome of current police enquiries.

Roads: Accidents

Charlotte Leslie: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what mechanisms there are for hospitals to recharge insurance companies for the costs associated with the treatment of customers who are involved in road traffic accidents.

Alistair Burt: The Department already has a scheme in place for the recovery of National Health Service treatment costs for patients involved in accidents that subsequently go on to make a successful claim for personal injury compensation. The NHS Injury Cost Recovery scheme places a legal obligation on insurers to notify the Secretary of State of all claims for personal injury compensation and provide information about whether the injured person was treated in an NHS hospital. The scheme is administered on behalf of the Secretary of State for Health by the Compensation Recovery Unit, which is part of the Department for Work and Pensions so in practice, notifications are made to them. Recovered costs are paid direct to the NHS hospital or ambulance trust that provided the treatment.

Gambling: Health Services

Ronnie Cowan: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what plans he has to provide specialist local NHS services to treat gambling addiction.

Ronnie Cowan: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many people are employed as specialists by the NHS to assist people with gambling addictions.

Ronnie Cowan: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what funding his Department provides to the NHS to treat people with gambling addictions.

Alistair Burt: The Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust provides the only specialised national problem gambling clinic. However, specialised addiction services, which mainly deal with substance misuse, do tend to accept people with gambling problems referred to them. People can also access addiction services in primary care and secondary care, which may provide support for problem gambling.People may also access psychological therapies through the Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) programme. Although problem gambling is not listed amongst the provisional diagnosis categories that IAPT treats, IAPT practitioners would be able to treat common mental health disorders such as depression and anxiety, which may be present in people with gambling addiction problems.Data is not collected centrally on the number of specialist National Health Service professionals which provide support and treatment for gambling addiction.Data is not collected on the funding of services to treat people with gambling problems. Funding to provide NHS mental health services is allocated to clinical commissioning groups which are best placed to commission local health services based on the needs of their local populations. Local authorities are responsible for commissioning local alcohol and drug treatment services which may also refer people to gambling support services where they identify people with gambling issues.

Mental Health Services: Finance

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, whether Health Education England will have a budget to commission training for clinical psychology, Improving Access to Psychological Therapies and child psychotherapy in 2017-18 at the same levels as in 2016-17.

Ben Gummer: As with all arm’s length bodies, Health Education England’s (HEE) programme budget for 2017-18 is subject to business planning and cannot be confirmed at this stage. HEE will set out its plans for future workforce training commissions in its Workforce Plan for England which is expected to be published by the end of December 2016.

Mental Health Services: Females

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, with reference to the Mental Health Taskforce's report, entitled The five-year forward view for mental health, published in February 2016, what steps he is taking to implement the recommendation that an equalities champion for mental health be approved; and what responsibilities that champion will have for women's mental health.

Alistair Burt: The Government is working with delivery partners to carefully consider the independent Mental Health Taskforce’s recommendations and aims to publish a strategic implementation plan in the autumn that will set out how Government and partners will deliver the recommendations, including that of equalities champion.

Health Services

Royston Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, which five health conditions required the greatest (a) financial and (b) time commitment from GP services in the last five years.

Alistair Burt: The requested information is not held.

Cervical Cancer: Screening

Gloria De Piero: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps are being taken to address the downward trend in cervical cancer screening uptake.

Jane Ellison: There is a range of work going on to understand the reasons for the decline and to try to address them. This includes: - Data and information – access to data, cleansing, benchmarking for providers, timely and useful for commissioners;- behavioural insight – communication with commissioners, providers, patients, public;- commissioning levers – commissioning contracts in public health (S7a), primary care;- partnership work – relationships with commissioners and providers; and- sharing best practice – what works well, evaluation, how to embed quality improvement Public Health England Screening is also awaiting the outcome from the Strategies to Increase Cervical screening uptake at first invitation (STRATEGIC) trial which looks at various interventions to help assist women to attend screening and increase uptake across all quintiles. The trial was completed in 2015 and researchers are expected to publish findings later this year.

School Meals: Nutrition

Kevin Brennan: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment his Department made of the applicability of the requirements of school food standards as part of the development of the Government's Eatwell guide.

Jane Ellison: The Eatwell Guide is suitable for everyone over the age of five years to follow and intends to assist the population in choosing a varied and balanced diet to meet Government dietary recommendations. The School Food Standards aim to assist school aged children in achieving Government dietary recommendations, tying in with the aims of the Eatwell Guide. Common themes include the encouragement of fruits, vegetables and wholegrain starchy carbohydrates, as well as promoting the contribution of water and lower fat milks.

Cervical Cancer: Screening

Gloria De Piero: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the effect of increasing the minimum age for women receiving smear tests to 25 on cervical cancer detection rates in women under that age.

Jane Ellison: In 2012 the United Kingdom National Screening Committee made a recommendation that the age of first invitation for cervical screening should be 25. This was based on a review which looked at the latest available evidence on risks and benefits for cervical screening in women aged 20-24.

In Vitro Fertilisation

Nic Dakin: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many patients in each clinical commissioning group area had IVF treatment in (a) 2013, (b) 2014 and (c) 2015.

Jane Ellison: This information is not collected centrally.

Human Papillomavirus: Vaccination

Gloria De Piero: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the take-up rate is of the HPV vaccine for girls in (a) Ashfield constituency, (b) Nottinghamshire and (c) the UK.

Jane Ellison: Data for the Mansfield and Ashfield Clinical Commissioning Group are included within the Nottinghamshire Local Authority, which is within the South Yorkshire and Bassetlaw Area Team. The uptake rates for the first dose of human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine given to Year 8 girls (12-13 year olds) from 1 September 2014 to 31 August 2015 are: Nottinghamshire local authority: 89.1%;South Yorkshire and Bassetlaw Area Team: 90.0%; andUnited Kingdom: 89.5%. The latest published figures for the HPV vaccination programme cover the 2014/15 academic year, and show the uptake rate for the first dose of this two dose programme. Vaccine uptake data covering the second dose will not be available until autumn 2016.

Cervical Cancer: Mortality Rates

Gloria De Piero: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the one-year survival rates are for women diagnosed with cervical cancer following (a) a routine smear test and (b) diagnosis by other means.

Jane Ellison: Cervical screening is not a test for cancer. Cervical screening detects abnormalities within the cervix that could, if undetected and untreated, develop into cervical cancer. It is unusual to detect an invasive cervical cancer on a screening test and this would need to be confirmed by a diagnostic test.For those cervical cancers which are detected through screening, the one-year relative survival is 99%. This compares to 86% for all cervical cancers; 83% for those diagnosed after a Two Week Wait referral; and 45% for those diagnosed as an emergency.

Mental Health Services: Older People

Nusrat Ghani: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what resources his Department has allocated to support for older people with mental health issues in (a) England and (b) East Sussex in 2016-17.

Alistair Burt: Funding for mental health is allocated to clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) which are best placed to identify the priorities and needs of their local communities. Spending on mental health is expected to increase to £11.7 billion for 2014/15 and CCGs are committed to increasing their spending on mental health each year at least in line with the growth of their overall funding allocation. NHS England has asked local National Health Service areas to develop and implement sustainability and transformation plans this year to demonstrate how local services will be built around the needs of local people. This includes measures to improve primary care and developing better models of out of hospital care. We established the Better Care Fund which is enabling local authorities to access around £3.5 billion a year to improve services and achieve better integration of health and social care commissioning. The Better Care Fund is one of the most ambitious programmes across the NHS and local government to date. It creates a local single pooled budget to incentivise the NHS and local government to work more closely together around people, placing their wellbeing as the focus of health and care services, and shifting resources into social care and community services for the benefit of the people, communities and health and care systems. The independent Mental Health Taskforce published earlier this year made a recommendation for NHS England to that people being supported in specialist older-age acute physical health services have access to liaison mental health teams – including expertise in the psychiatry of older adults. We have accepted these recommendations. We set out plans for transforming primary care in 2014 which includes supporting people with the most complex needs by general practitioners developing a proactive and personalised programme of care and support tailored to their needs and views. This is being led by the Proactive Care Programme which is designed to bring about a step change in the quality of care for frail older people (including those with mental health problems) and other patients with complex needs. It enables CCGs to shift funding into primary care services and community health services to address issues such as avoidable admissions to hospitals and gaps in service provision. In February 2015, the Prime Minister launched his new Challenge on Dementia 2020 to make sure that dementia care, support, awareness and research are transformed by 2020. The Challenge Implementation Plan, published in March 2016, set out the actions partners across health and care will take to ensure commitments in the 2020 Challenge are delivered. These include: - every person diagnosed with dementia having meaningful care following their diagnosis, which supports them and those around them;- information made available locally on post-diagnosis services and how these can be accessed;- access to relevant advice and support to help and advice on what happens after a diagnosis and the support available through the journey; and- carers of people with dementia being made aware of and offered the opportunity for respite, education, training, emotional and psychological support so that they feel able to cope with their caring responsibilities and to have a life alongside caring. Alongside the Implementation Plan the Department has published, together with key dementia stakeholders, a “Joint Declaration on Post-Diagnostic Dementia Care and Support”. This sets out the key principles of good quality post-diagnostic care for people with dementia. The Department has prioritised prevention and through the Care Act 2014 it has required local authorities to have measures in place to identify people in their area who would benefit from universal services to help reduce, delay or prevent needs for care and support. This includes needs that may arise from social isolation. Local authorities must consider if an adult is socially isolated or lonely when assessing them for adult social care. The Eligibility Regulations require local authorities to take into account whether a person wants to develop and maintain family or other personal relationships when assessing their eligibility for social care.

Cervical Cancer: Screening

Gloria De Piero: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many women in Ashfield constituency have had cervical smears in each of the last five calendar years; and what the average number and proportion of women who have had those smears is in all  parliamentary constituencies.

Jane Ellison: Cervical screening data is provided at local authority (LA) level. The screening coverage trend for Ashfield and other LAs in the last five years for women age appropriate can be accessed using the following link: http://www.phoutcomes.info/search/cervical%20screening#page/4/gid/1/pat/6/par/E12000004/ati/101/are/E07000170/iid/22002/age/167/sex/2 Manipulation of the tool is necessary for obtaining information for other LAs.

NHS Improvement: Correspondence

Rob Marris: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, by what date NHS Improvement plan to respond to the email it received from the hon. Member for Wolverhampton South West on 13 May 2016, reference ZA4209, on delay.

Rob Marris: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, by what date his Department plans to respond to the email from the hon. Member for Wolverhampton South West of 9 June 2016, reference ZA4209, on delayed correspondence received by NHS Improvement.

Ben Gummer: NHS Improvement replied to the email of 13 May that it received from the hon. Member on 28 June 2016. In April 2016 NHS Improvement brought together Monitor, NHS Trust Development Authority, NHS England’s Patient Safety team, the National Reporting and Learning System, NHS England’s Advancing Change team and its Intensive Support Teams. NHS Improvement advise that they are strengthening their regional presence and refining their processes, including how they respond to queries. Their aim is to respond to letters and other correspondence from hon. Members within the Whitehall standard of 18 working days. The Department has no record of having received an email from the hon. Member on 9 June 2016.

Drugs: Misuse

Royston Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps his Department plans to take to support people who are addicted to the psychoactive substances prohibited by the Psychoactive Substances Act 2016.

Jane Ellison: Local authorities are responsible for assessing the local need for drug treatment and commissioning services to meet that need. This involves developing services that can help people with a range of drug problems; which can also respond to emerging problems, such as new psychoactive substances. Public Health England works with local authorities to support them in commissioning alcohol and drug services, providing guidance and materials, bespoke data, value for money tools, topical briefings and advice on good practice. This includes guidance on new psychoactive substances for substance misuse commissioners, including a toolkit which can be found at: http://www.nta.nhs.uk/uploads/nps-a-toolkit-for-substance-misuse-commissioners.pdf